AL Top Players: No. 5 Justin Verlander

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander points to himself while answering a question during a media availability at Comerica Park before practice for Game 3 of the American League baseball championship series against the Boston Red Sox in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sanc

/ AP

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander points to himself while answering a question during a media availability at Comerica Park before practice for Game 3 of the American League baseball championship series against the Boston Red Sox in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander points to himself while answering a question during a media availability at Comerica Park before practice for Game 3 of the American League baseball championship series against the Boston Red Sox in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (/ AP)

Lowdown: For much of 2013, Verlander was far from his vintage self. His 3.46 ERA was nearly a full run above last year’s mark (2.64) and his WHIP jumped from 1.06 to 1.32. Still, he won 13 games, logged more than 200 innings for the seventh straight season and still struck out 8.9 batters per nine innings. Given his track record – he did win a Cy Young and an MVP in the same season – Verlander is a good bet to bounce back into the 24-win version of himself from 2011. In fact, his playoff performance in October – 0.39 ERA, 31 strikeouts and three walks over 23 innings – proves that Verlander is still very much the real deal.